Ruth Ham: Family grateful for town's support during horse tragedy in Shapleigh

Thursday

Dec 29, 2011 at 3:15 AM

Ruth Ham

Everyone woke up to streets glazed with ice on Wednesday, Dec. 21. Driving conditions were treacherous — and of all the car accidents that occurred that morning, there is one in particular that drew attention due to the plight of an animal.

Moose, Cheyenne Starbird's horse out on Back Road, had fallen through the ice on a pond and was unable to get out on his own. Starbird's father, Chuck, heard the horse thrashing in the pond when he returned home. The struggling horse was too exhausted and could hardly lift his head above water without help.

Chuck and his wife tried in vain to free the horse but to no avail. He decided to call Fire Chief Duane Romano and ask for help.

Romano, Road Commissioner Johnny Burnell, Fire Warden Steve Fiske and many others responded to the emergency call to assist the stranded animal. Assistance came from all directions: Shapleigh, Acton, Newfield and even Berwick.

The horse, an Appaloosa more than 25 years old, had hypothermia and could no longer rely on his legs for support. After a time, the rescuers were able to lift the Moose from the pond in a loader bucket borrowed from a neighbor down the road.

Someone called a veterinarian to the scene. The veterinarian examined the horse and determined he should not be moved further until his body temperature rose from 90 degrees to 98. Torpedo heaters were used to raise the horse's temperature.

Moose was placed in a shelter filled with fresh hay and warmed with commercial heaters. Cheyenne and her mother spent the night in the shelter with the horse, whose head was propped up on a bale of hay. Later that night, the mother observed Moose nibbling on her daughter's clothes, as he was prone to do when he felt well. In the morning, Moose's temperature of 101 degrees seemed to be a good sign.

By the end of the week, Moose was eating and drinking and appeared to be gaining strength. However, this story does not have a happy ending. Moose succumbed to the ravages of his experience, undoubtedly age having been a factor, and is survived by 7 year old Jet, the horse he had shared his paddock with for years.

This has been a devastating experience for the Starbird family but through it all they found the support they received from the community and beyond to be amazing and overwhelming. They wish to express their deep appreciation for all those who tried to save Moose while battling the rain and cold themselves.

TOWN HALL CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

The Shapleigh Town Hall will be closed on Saturday, Dec. 31, for New Year's Eve. The next business day will be Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Have a safe and happy New Year.

2011 YEAR IN REVIEW

January — The Budget Committee made its recommendations for the warrant articles for the 2012 annual town meeting to be held on the second Saturday in March.

February — The firm of Cummings, Lamont and Associates completed the financial audit for the town which will appear in the annual town report. The material for the Town Report went to the printers and was delivered in time for residents to peruse it before the annual town meeting.

March — The annual town election took place on the second Friday of the month. Michael S. Perro was re-elected for another 3-year term as selectman, Assessor and Overseer of the Poor. The annual town meeting took place on the second Saturday of the month.

April — The first day of April is when property owners are to report any changes which have occurred with their property.

May — The firm of John E. O'Donnell & Associates commenced the assessing field work for 2011 to prepare for the annual real estate tax commitment.

June — Interviews were held with those applicants who were graduating from 12th grade and planning to go on to an institute of higher learning. The RSU 57 budget for 2011-2012 was approved by a very small group of voters from the six towns which comprise the school union.

July — Shapleigh Commons Day took place on the fourth Saturday of July but fell short of its usual attendance. The poor economy may have played a part in this.

August — Road Commissioners worked on road projects.

September — A special town meeting was held on the 19th to see if voters would vote to purchase the Hooper property next to the Shapleigh Town Hall. There were two options: approve the purchase of the entire 22-acre parcel and buildings or a 4.5-acre vacant field parcel. The voters approved the purchase of the entire parcel for $199,000.

October — The town's various departments prepared their budgets and turned them in to the board of selectmen and the budget committee.

November — At a special town meeting, voters unanimously approved accepting as a gift two adjacent parcels of land totaling about 300 acres from Roger K. Williams. The town meeting was the shortest one on record, lasting only eight minutes.

Also in November, the Sanford and Shapleigh Dam Coalition (SASDC) held its first meeting at the Shapleigh Town Hall. A second meeting was scheduled for December in Sanford.

December — Crews completed the town's new sand and salt shed just in time for the road commissioners to be able to stockpile sand and salt. The commissioners also were able to complete paving the roads due to the lingering autumn temperatures.

WILLIAMS PROPERTY OFFICIALLY THE TOWN'S

The town now officially owns the 300 acres that Roger K. Williams recently offered to the town as a gift. The deed is recorded in Book 16228 on pages 711 through 713.

HAM SIGNS PAPERWORK FOR HOOPER LAND

Selectman Ruth Ham attended a meeting at Bourque and Clegg's law office in Sanford regarding the 22-acre parcel previously owned by Lloyd and Mildred Hooper.

Ham, representing Shapleigh, signed the documents necessary and turned over the first payment of the purchase price. The remainder will be paid in January 2012, at which time the settlement will be complete and the deed will be recorded in the York County Registry of Deeds in Alfred.

The Town has purchased only the property on the easterly side of Back Road. There is still an 11-acre undeveloped parcel that is located on the westerly side of Back Road and borders Pump Box Brook, which is still available for purchase from the Hooper heirs.

For more information, call 636-2843, ext. 406.

FOREST PROGRAMS NEED UPDATING

The Town has sent letters to several property owners who have their land enrolled in the state's Tree Growth Program to remind them that they need to have their forest management program updated and they need to file the application necessary to continue in the Tree Growth category.

The update is required every ten years and must be completed by a certified professional forester.

NO MORE WCVB

Selectmen have received further notice that Metrocast will no longer be able to provide Boston station WCVB on Channel 5.

Customers will be able to continue viewing ABC programming on WMTW Channel 8 out of Portland. They will be able to get their Boston news coverage from WBZ-4 and WHDH-7, which are CBS and NBC affiliates, respectively.

HISTORY OF THE VERNON WALKER MANAGEMENT AREA

The following article was printed in the Town of Shapleigh's Bicentennial Book. With Inland Fisheries and Wildlife currently doing some work in the Management Area, others may be interested in some of the history of some of the acreage that comprises the Vernon S. Walker Management Area.

"The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife renamed the Newfield Wildlife Management Area the Vernon S. Walker Management Area during the summer of 1985 to honor Vern's memory. Vern was a district warden in this area for twenty-five years before he retired in 1972. He died in October 1984.

"Vern sold 1,100 acres of the present management area to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife because he wanted it kept in its natural state rather than having it developed. He acquired the land and farm from Mrs. Walter Spicer shortly after the 1947 fire. At one time this was a well known recreation area for many of the VIPs from Goodall Mills. The Dodge Brothers were frequent guests of the former owners and spent much time fishing the ten acre pond on the property, now known as Spicer Pond. Two brooks flow through the property, the Davis and Jones, and along with the pond, form a dependable water supply.

"The remaining acreage is an excellent upland game habitat forested with mixed growth. This habitat provides homes for several species of wildlife, including fox, rabbit, ruffed grouse, bobcat, and is a well-known deer yarding area. Fur bearers, such as beaver, muskrat, mink and otter, are residents of the brooks and pond.

Vern took an active interest in this area as it was part of his regular patrol. The Department was not interested in retaining the farm buildings and gave him the choice of tearing the building down, burning it or moving it off the acreage. He chose to move it the mile and a quarter to Route 11. It was quite a sight to see the house, chimney intact, and also the back porch, come slowly down the mountain, across the level land, and out on Route 11 to the cellar he had prepared for its new resting place. An old crockery jug which sat on the back porch as a decoration rode proudly down the whole trip, neither falling off nor breaking. The building is presently in the process of being restored.

"At the dedication service a sign renaming the Wildlife Management Area in Vern's memory will be erected at the entrance to an area which he both enjoyed and appreciated. This seems an excellent way to acknowledge Vern's generosity and contribution to the preservation of wildlife habitat in Maine and specifically in York County."

FIGHTING HUNGER

The local food pantry, operated by the Baptist Church at 600 Shapleigh Corner Road on Route 11, is available for any Shapleigh family or resident who needs food.

The pantry is open on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 7 p.m. and is located in the lower level of the church; it can be reached by entering the lower parking lot and driving over to the church basement area.

The folks who run the pantry also offer some personal products, such as shampoo, tissues, toilet paper, detergent, and other items that cannot be purchased with food stamps.

For more information, call the church at 636-1662.

There is a tremendous response throughout the community to help keep the pantry's shelves stocked and ready to assist folks in need. Boxes are located at the town hall, the community library, Boonies, One Earth Natural Food Store, and elsewhere.

Thanks to everyone who so generously continues to donate throughout the year. This is not just a holiday food drive but an ongoing one. God bless you all.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.